Collapsible clothing hanger



Aug. 5, 1947. J. L.`COM|S ETAL n A2,425,146

COLLAPSIBLE CLOTHING HANGER Filed March 9, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet lPatented Aug. 5, 1947 COLLAPSIBLE CLOTHING HANGER James L. Comis andGeorge Nestos, Chicago,

Ill., assignors of one-third to Paul Uher, Chicago, Ill.

Application March 9, 1945, Serial No. 581,826

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a collapsible clothing hanger supportingarticles of clothing including suits, dresses and like garmentssuspended rom or upon garment hangers, aswell as neckties, and otherarticles of clothing.

An object of the present invention is to provide a collapsible clothinghanger which may be used in places in which space is an importantconsideration such, for example, as clothes closets, in trunks, and thelike.

An additional object of the present invention is to construct andarrange the new collapsible clothing hanger in such a manner that thesame will support substantial loads without collapsing or bending underthe weight and stresses and strains thereof.

A further and more speciiic object of the invention is to construct andarrange the new collapsible clothing hanger in such a manner that thehorizontal supporting bar embodied therein is prevented from bending orcollapsing under the weight of a plurality of garments such, forexample, as suits suspended therefrom by means of garment hangers or thelike.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a novelconstruction and arrangement for operatively interconnecting thehorizontal supporting bar and the vertical supporting rod when the newcollapsible clothing hanger is in use and in such a manner that thehorizontal supporting bar is adequately braced by engagement with thevertical supporting rod or post so as to prevent it from sagging,bending or collapsing under the weight of a plurality of garmentscarried thereby,

Other and further objects of the present invention will be apparent fromthe following description and claims and are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings which, by way of illustration, show preferredembodiments of the invention and the principles thereof and what I nowconsider to be the best mode in which I have contemplated applying thoseprinciples. Other embodiments of the invention embodying the same orequivalent principles may be used and structural changes may be made asdesired by those skilled in the art without departing from the presentinvention and the purview of the appended claims.

Fig. 1 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation showing apreferred form of the new clothes hanger in position of use;

between the horizontal supporting bar and the vertical supporting rod orpost;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary top sectional plan View on lines-3 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary detail View similar to Fig. 2 but showing thehorizontal supporting bar operatively engaged with the verticalsupporting rod or post;

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but showing the supporting bar inraised or vertical and collapsed position;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating a modied form ofthe supporting bar which is especially adapted for use in holdingneckties; and

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig. 6 but showing the supporting bar invertical and collapsed position.

A typical embodiment of the new collapsible clothing hanger il;illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive, of the drawings, and is thereingenerally indicated at Iii, and is shown as being mounted upon orattached to a suitable supporting surface Il which may be a doo-r frameo1' wall of a clothes closet or the like. The new clothes hanger Il!includes a vertical supporting rod or post I2 which is swivelly mountedat its upper end upon a bracket i3 which may be fastened, as at It, tothe supporting surface I I. The vertical rod I2 is likewise swivellymounted at its lower end upon a bracket I5 which may be attached, as atI6 to the supporting surface II.

The new collapsible clothing hanger I0 includes a horizontal supportingbar il which is preferably made of strong, flat, steel stock and formedin the lower edge of this horizontal supporting bar I'I, is a pluralityof slots I8 each of which opens at its lower end along the bottom edgeof the bar I7, as the bar I I appears when in a horizontal position, asin Fig. l.

The horizontal supporting bar I I is operatively connected by a link I9to the vertical supporting rod I2. This link I9 is pivotally connectedat its lower end, as at 29, to the bar I'I and is pivotally connected atits upper end, as at 2l, to the vertical supporting rod I2.

In the practice of the present invention we provide a lost motionconnection between the vertical supporting rod I2 and the horizontalsupporting bar I 'l and this lost motion connection is best illustratedin Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings. To this end a V-shaped notch 22 isformed in the vertical rod I2, between the upper and lower ends thereofand the lower end of this notch 22 provides a horizontal shoulder 23.Mounted in the vertical supporting rod I2, above the notch 22, and inthe opposite side of the supporting member or rod I2 from the notch 22,is a stop member in the form of a rivet 2Q and slidably mounted upon thevertical supporting rod I2 is a tubular sleeve 25. A pair of parallelarms 25 are formed integrally with the sleeve 25 and these arms 26embrace an angular end portion 2I of the horizontal supporting bar i1.Formed in the angular end portion 2'I of the supporting bar I'i is aslot 28 and projecting through this slotis a pin 29 the ends of whichare secured on the outer sides of the arms 2S of the tubular sleeve 25.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 4 of the drawings, the angular end portion ofthe horizontal supporting bar I'I terminates in a triangular-shaped endportion or nose 3D and this portion 30 of the horizontal supporting barI'I is adapted to engage in the notch 22 so as to rest upon the shoulderportion 23 thereof.

In the use of the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5,inclusive, the device may be mounted upon a vertical supporting surfaceI I, as shown, and may be collapsed and disposed in the position inwhich it is shown in Fig. 5 when not in use, with the supporting bar IIextending vertically and substantially parallel to the Verticalsupporting rod I2. However, when it is desired to use the new clotheshanger the slotted supporting bar I'I may be pivoted downwardly intohorizontal position, as in Fig. 1, whereupon the triangular-shaped endportion or nose 30 of the bar I'I' may be projected into the notch 22 sothat it rests upon the shoulder 23, this being accomplished by manuallypushing the slotted supporting bar I'I toward the vertical supportingrod I2. This operation is made possible by reason of the lost motionconnection 28--29 between the slotted supporting bar Il and the slidablesleeve 25-26 on the vertical supporting rod or post I2.

Garments or articles of clothing, such as are indicated at 3l, may thenbe suspended by conventional garment hangers 32 from the slottedsupporting bar I'I, this being accomplished by inserting the hooks 33 ofthe garment hangers 32 into the slots I8 in the bar I'I.

It will be noted that when the slotted supporting bar I'I is thusdisposed in eifective and horizontal supporting position, as in Fig. 1,a substantial part of the weight of the garments 3| carried by the barI'I bears downwardly upon the supporting bar I'I and the force thereofbears downwardly, through the angled inner end portion 3U of the bar Il,onto the horizontal shoulder 23 of the notch 22' in the vertical post orrod I2. In this manner the engagement of the triangularshaped nose 39 ofthe bar I1 in the notch 22 is assured and the bar I1 is prevented frombending or collapsing under the weight of the garments carried thereby,at the left hand side of the pivoted connection 20 between the link I9and the bar I'I, as seen in Fig. 1. In this manner one of the diicultiesheretofore experienced in the use of prior collapsible clothes hangersis avoided, said diiiiculty having resided in the tendency of such priordevices to collapse under the force of garments carried thereby andparticularly when such garments Were arranged between the pivotalinterconnection between the supporting link, for the horizontalsupportingV bar, and the vertical supporting rod or post.

The slotted bar I'I and the garments carried thereby may be conned in arelatively small space by merely pulling outwardly on the bar I'I (leftto right as seen in Fig. 1) so as to withdraw the angular end portion ornose 33 thereof off from the shoulder 23, whereupon the sleeve 25 may beslid downwardly on the post I2 into the collapsed position in which itis shown in Fig. 5. During this operation the bar I1, with the garments3| suspended therefrom, will be moved into vertical position, as seen inFig. 5. When the parts are thus disposed the hooks 33 of the garmenthangers 32 will still remain in the slots I8 of the bar I'I and thegarments 3| carried by the garment hangers 32 will be cascaded one overthe other at the then front and slotted edge of the bar I'I.

A modification of the invention is illustrated in Figs. 6 and 'I andthis form of the invention is particularly adapted for holding neckties.This form of the invention comprises a bar I 'Ia in which slots Ia areformed, these slots Ia terminating at one end upon the lower edge of thebar Ila, as the bar I'Ia is seen in horizontal position, but terminatingat their inner ends in an arm 3l of the slot Ia which provides twosupporting surfaces for a necktie 35. These two supporting surfaceswhich are provided by each arm 31 of each slot |805 are indicated at 34and 36, in Figs. 6 and '7, and extend at approximately a rightangle toeach other.

By reference to Figs. 6 and 7 it will be noted that the relativelynarrow or neckband portions of the neckties 35 are suspended from thethen horizontal surface 34 of the slots Ia when the bar IIa is inhorizontal position. as in Fig. 6, but that when the bar Ila is-raisedinto vertical or collapsed position, as in Fig. 7, the relatively narrowor neckband portions of the neckties are then suspended from the thenhorizontal surfaces 35 of the arms 3i of the slots I8a, with theneckties 35 suspended or cascaded one over the other, as indicated indotted lines in Fig. 7.

The operating mechanism for the slotted bar I'Ia, which is embodied inthe form of the invention shown in Figs, 6 and 7, is the same as thatembodied in the form of the invention shown in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive,and as hereinbefore described.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description, considered inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, that the present inventionprovides a novel and eiiicient collapsible holder or hanger for garmentsor articles of clothing, including neckties, and has the desirableadvantages and characteristics, and accomplishes its intended objects,including those hereinbefore pointed out and others which are inherentin the invention.

We claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a supporting member adaptedto be suspended in a vertical position from a vertical supportingsurface, an article-supporting bar, a slidable member slidably mountedupon the said supporting member for movement axially thereof, a linkhaving one end portion pivotally connected to the said supporting memberand having its other end portion pivotally connected to the saidarticle-supporting bar between the ends of the latter, means cooperatingwith the said slidable member to provide a pivotal connection betweenthe said article-supporting .bar and the said slidable member, means onthe said supporting member engageable with an end portion of the saidarticle-supporting bar for releasably supporting an end portion of saidarticle-supporting bar against downward movement when the saidarticle-supporting bar is in substantially horizontal position, and saidsupporting member having a stop member thereon above the said slidablemember and engageable by the latter for limiting upward movement of thesaid slidable member and the said article-supporting bar axially of thesaid supporting member when the said `articlesupporting member isdisposed in a substantially horizontal article-supporting position.

2. A device as deiined in claim 1 in which the said means on the saidsupporting member for releasably supporting the said end portion of saidarticle-supporting bar is in the form of a horizontally extendingshoulder formed on the said supporting member and in which saidarticlesupporting member bar includes an inner end portion which isadapted to bear downwardly upon the said shoulder when the saidarticlesupporting bar is in horizontal supporting position.

3. A device as defined in claim 1 in which the said means on the saidsupporting member for releasably supporting an end portion of saidarticle-supporting bar is in the form of a substantially v-shaped notchformed in said supporting member and providing a horizontally extendingshoulder and in which said article-supporting bar includes an angledinner end portion which is adapted to engage in said notch and to bearupon the said horizontally extending shoulder when the saidarticle-supporting bar is in. horizontal supporting position.

4. A device as defined in claim 1 in which the said means cooperatingwith the said slidable member for providing a pivotal connection betweenthe said article-supporting bar and the said slidable member is in theform of a pin and slot connection which enables the said end portion ofsaid article-supporting bar to be moved into and out of engagement withthe said means for releasably supporting the said end portion of saidarticle-supporting bar.

5. A device as dened in claim 1 in which said article-supporting barincludes an edge portion having a row of article-receiving slots formedtherein and in which each of said article-receiving slots is shaped andadapted to receive and to retain the relatively narrow or neckbandportion of a necktie, and in which each of said articlereceiving slotshas an inner end portion providing a pair of supporting surfaces whichextend at approximately a right angle to each other and in which one ofsaid supporting surfaces in each of said article-receiving slots isadapted to receive and to support the relatively narrow or neckbandportion of a necktie when the said arti cle-supporting bar is inhorizontal position and in which the other of said supporting surfacesin each of said article-receiving slots is adapted to receive and tosupport the relatively narrow or neckband portion of a necktie when thesaid article-supporting bar is in collapsed and vertical position andextends substantially parallel to the said supporting member.

6. A device as dened in claim 1 in which the said means cooperating withthe said slidable member for providing a pivotal connection between thesaid article-supporting bar and the said supporting member is in theform of a lost motion connection which enables the said end portion ofsaid article-supporting bar to be moved into and out of engagement withthe said means for releasably supporting the said end portion of saidarticle-supporting base, and in which said lost motion connection is inthe form of a slot formed in said article-supporting bar and a pair ofspaced members attached to said slidable member on opposite sides ofsaid article-supporting bar and having a member extending therebetweenand working in the said last-n-amed slot in the said article-supportingbar.

'1. In a device of the character described, a supporting member adaptedto be suspended in a vertical position from a vertical supportingsurface, an article-supporting bar, a slidable member slidably mountedupon the said supporting member for movement axially thereof, a linkhaving one end portion pivotally connected to the said supporting memberand having its other end portion pivotally connected to the saidarticlesupporting bar between the ends of the latter, means cooperatingwith the said slidable member to provide a pivotal connection betweenthe said article-supporting bar and the said slidable member, `and meanson the said supporting member engageable with an end portion of the saidarticle-supporting bar for releasably supporting an end portion of saidarticle-supporting bar against downward movement when the saidarticle-supporting bar is in substantially horizontal position, the saidmeans on the said supporting member for releasably supporting an endportion of said article-supporting bar having the form of asubstantially V-shaped notch formed in the said supporting member andproviding a horizontally extending shoulder thereon, the saidarticle-supporting bar including an angled inner end portion which isadapted to engage in the said notch and to bear upon the saidhorizontally extending shoulder When the said articlesupporting bar isin horizontal supporting position, and the said supporting member havinga stop member thereon located above the said substantially V-shapednotch and on the opposite side of the said supporting member from theside thereof on which the said substantially V-shaped notch is arranged.

JAMES L. COMIS. GEORGE NESTOS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

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